Untitled
50 years ago today That’s when my mother was born And 27 years ago today That’s the day my mother died
But I still wonder why I wonder why my mother died And I still wonder why I wonder why she deserved to die
Back in the year 1989, she was still living and breathing When tens of thousands gathered on Tiananmen Square, Beijing She wanted to join them, but couldn’t get a train ticket So the local town hall is where the young lady headed
In her hands placards, in her mouth pleading cries I can only imagine what she was motivated by “Democracy now” and “no more corruption,” Chanted all those exercising their civil right
Then one day they heard the news from Beijing, scared and terrified Where tanks rumbled through human bodies and bullets began to fly Never mind the “freedom of speech, assembly and demonstration” Clearly written in the Constitution, Article 35
My mother trekked back home in utter silence and confusion While her friends were kicked out of school and thrown in prison Little did she know, those cameras also caught her presence And a “re-education” camp is where she would be sent
Having spent a month in the camp, she waved an apologetic goodbye All the “conspiracies” and “wrongdoings,” she’d finally admitted to and testified Her faith in the Communist Party was finally restored Knowing not a word of English, she repented of working for the “American spies”
Fast-forward 27 years, her soul case is still breathing Yes, even today, still breathing, eating, drinking, talking But her soul is long gone, dead somewhere in that camp And ever since that day, my mother is no longer living
But I still wonder why I wonder why I haven’t died And I still wonder why I wonder why I deserve to survive